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Aquino slammed for kowtowing to US plan to project military might in Asia

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Aquino slammed for kowtowing to US plan to project military might in Asia


What Aquino calls as “new juncture” in Philippine relations with the US seems to revolve chiefly on the Philippine role in maintaining the Pacific as an American Lake.
By MARYA SALAMAT
Bulatlat.com

MANILA – While President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III was in the United States for a state visit, progressive groups in the US and in the Philippines held protest actions to condemn what they call as his “treachery” and “shameless puppetry.”

“In a time when the Philippines should have been asserting its sovereignty and charting an independent foreign policy, Aquino is groveling to the US for economic and military aid in exchange for the transformation of the entire country into a US military outpost in Southeast Asia,” said Renato Reyes, secretary general of Bayan.

At a protest rally in front of the US Embassy in Manila on June 8, Reyes said there is nothing to be proud of in Aquino’s visit to the US and talks with US President Barack Obama, “because it’s not a talk between friends.” He added that a “real friend doesn’t use or take advantage of his friend, like what the US has been doing to its ‘treaty partner,’ the Philippines.”

The protesters burned an image of the United States flag with pictures of Obama and Aquino. Due to demands from protesters and the media covering the rally, the group burned another Obama-Aquino poster before voluntarily marching away from the US embassy after holding a program.

Philippines as US outpost in Asia-Pacific

On his three-day visit in the US, Aquino had a one-on-one talk with US President Barack Obama in the White House, lunch with US State Secretary Hillary Clinton in the State Department and a meeting with US Senator Richard Lugar. The latter authored a resolution calling for increased defense and security cooperation with the Philippines. It was unanimously approved in the US Senate in time for Aquino’s state visit.


One of the emblems of US-Phl special relations burned in front of US Embassy in Manila June 8. (Photo by Marya Salamat / bulatlat.com)
In a statement, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) described the official visit accorded by the Obama government to Aquino as “a reward for his close cooperation with the US imperialists to help fortify its power in the Asia-Pacific region at the expense of the Filipino people’s sovereignty and its right to self-determination.”

Indeed, the Philippine government under Aquino has agreed to ‘cooperate’ with the US on its “rebalancing” or greater focusing of forces and engagement to Asia-Pacific region, under which by 2020 American military officials say they shall have deployed in the region three-fifths of its fleet. In various top-level talks with American government this year, the Aquino government has agreed to host, even invited, the US’ increased “rotational” troops, along with its “most advanced ship, fifth generation aircraft, and the best missile defense technology,” as Gen. Martin Dempsey, chair of Joint Chiefs of Staff, described their presence..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/06/13/aquino-slammed-for-kowtowing-to-us-plan-to-project-military-might-in-asia/

All in good time FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 06/14/2012

All in good time

FRONTLINE
Ninez Cacho-Olivares
06/14/2012
A new movement calling itself the “Oust-Penoy Movement” has threatened to file an impeachment complaint against Noynoy Aquino.

It should be asked, following Noynoy’s recent illogic that the ouster of Renato Corona as Chief Justice of the high court has strengthened democracy, if Noynoy is impeached and ousted, would democracy become more vibrant?

After all, one rule should guide all and worse than Corona, Noynoy has willfully violated the Charter more than once.

Still, even if the ouster move against Noynoy does bring about an impeachment complaint, it will be all for naught, not because there exists no valid grounds — as there truly are valid grounds — but because Noynoy has the House of Representatives under his control — through his bribing ways of the offers of early release of pork barrel plus additional pork and perks..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120614com2.html

No harmony expected EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 06/14/2012

No harmony expected

EDITORIAL
Click to enlarge
06/14/2012
One can’t be too sure if the incumbent Supreme Court (SC) justices will be taking well the appointment by Noynoy of a chief justice who is an outsider, especially any of those who have so far been nominated as candidates for the top judicial post.

While acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio claims that appointing anyone, following tradition or not, is a presidential prerogative and that he would respect the decision of the President in his appointment, there’s still a hallow ring to that statement.

Carpio is at this time suffering from a negative public perception arising from his active involvement in getting Chief Justice Renato Corona ousted from his position. Carpio is also seen as being overly ambitious and is an ally of Noynoy, which is probably the reason Carpio, the most senior member in the SC, appears to be going out of his way to change that negative image he has earned, by pretending not to be salivating for the top post when it is evident that he wants it — and had wanted it even as early as 2010, which is why he and his cousin, now Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, came up with that act of rejecting their nomination as candidates of the SC, using as reason that they believe it should be the incoming President — Noynoy — who should be the appointing power, and not Gloria Arroyo..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120614com1.html

No-fly zone on the horizon in Syria?

No-fly zone on the horizon in Syria?

As international pressure against Syrian regime is ratcheting up France has urged to use UN-sanctioned force to implement Kofi Annan peace plan with a no-fly zone being an option.

In his strongest statement on Syria French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius proposed making the six-point peace plan obligatory by invoking the UN’s “Charter 7” provision which allows the Security Council to authorize actions ranging from sanctions to military intervention.

"The situation in Syria has taken an even more serious and horrid turn," he said as quoted by Reuters. "We have been informed that children are being used as human shields by the regime, placed in front of tanks, tortured, raped and assassinated.”.... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://www.rt.com/news/syria-france-no-fly-771/

NATO tries to shift its blame for Syrian bloodshed on Russia

NATO tries to shift its blame for Syrian bloodshed on Russia

The head of NATO has called on Russia to do more to stop the bloodshed in Syria but stopped short of joining a top United Nations official in declaring the conflict a full-scale civil war. 

 As world leaders continue to grapple with how to halt the violence, UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous on Wednesday said he believed the 16-month conflict has worsened to the point of civil war.

 In Australia for talks with the federal government, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen stopped short of backing Mr Ladsous' assessment, says Sydney Morning Herald.... MORE

SourcePravda.ru

URL: http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/13-06-2012/121368-nato_russia_syria-0/

TPP secrets: Obama covertly granting more power to multinational corporations

TPP secrets: Obama covertly granting more power to multinational corporations


Despite the White House’s efforts to keep a proposed free trade agreement concealed from the public — and even Congress — an excerpt from the TPP leaked Wednesday reveals that President Obama is prepared to bow to multinational corporations.

The United States has been engaged in discussion with eight Pacific nations to come to agreement on the terms of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free trade contract that would allow for a more open system of exchange between the US and less developed nations. Critics have been concerned, however, over how provisions of the project could drive up the price of medications and other goods across the world. The White House’s reluctance to provide details to even leading lawmakers responsible for America’s trade plans has caused a rift within the president’s own political party as his administration remains adamant about protecting the items being heard..... MORE

SourceRT.com

URL: http://rt.com/usa/news/tpp-obama-corporations-trade-725/

Groups to launch Save Bondoc Peninsula Movement for Human Rights

Groups to launch Save Bondoc Peninsula Movement for Human Rights



By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com
MANILA — Grassroots human rights and peasant organizations in Southern Tagalog are poised to launch an all-out campaign to expose the increasing number of human rights violations in the region, specifically Quezon province in the Bondoc Peninsula. The groups said the Benigno Aquino III government has given its full-blessing to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to intensify military operations to clear areas for the extraction activities of mining corporations.

The broad formation will be led by different grass roots organizations based in Quezon such as Karapatan (Alliance for the Advancement of Human Rights), PIGLAS , the provincial peasant organization in Quezon, and Anakpawis Partylist Chapters in the province.

Regional and national organizations such as Karapatan, Bayan and Kasama-TK will also play major roles in the campaign. Groups and individuals such as lawyers, journalists and church people who are active in the advocacy for the defense of human rights from both local and international community are also invited to support the movement and its activities.

Hacienda belt

According to Axel Pinpin, secretary of the Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan (Kasama-TK), the Aquino government has targeted Quezon province because of its rich natural resources and substantial share in the total agricultural production in the whole region. Districts 3 and 4 of the province are more commonly known as South Quezon and Bondoc Peninsula respectively, and are considered to be the centers of agricultural production.

On the whole, Quezon province has 39 municipalities and two cities, covering a total land area of 870, 660 hectares. Some 513,681 hectares or almost 60 percent is agricultural. The Quezon coastline, meanwhile, stretches for more than one thousand kilometers. Given all this, almost 78 percent of the population work as farmers who rely on the production of coconuts, rice, corn and other agricultural products for their livelihood..... MORE

SourceBulatlat.com

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2012/06/08/groups-to-launch-save-bondoc-peninsula-movement-for-human-rights/

Danger: Privatization of public utilities VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 06/14/2012

Danger: Privatization of public utilities

VIEWPOINTS
Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
06/14/2012
Public utilities come in various kinds, forms and shapes, in these or those places of the country, for different objectives and with diverse implications and consequences.

For ordinary people — considering that technocrats have their rather profound knowledge and expertise to say otherwise — all public utilities have the following more common features: One, they are all for the use of the public. Two, they are all for public welfare. Three, they are all funded by public funds.

In other words, the primary goal of basic objective of public utilities is the common good of the general public. And rightly so, considering that said utilities are administered by different public agencies or offices, all of which are meant for public service, in the same way that all of them are financed by the big amount of direct and indirect taxes paid by the people — from birth to death..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20120614com6.html

High court okays P1.8-B PCOS buy By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/14/2012

SC TOES NOYNOY’S LINE ON SMARTMATIC MACHINES

High court okays P1.8-B PCOS buy

By Benjamin B. Pulta 06/14/2012

From an Arroyo Court to an Aquino Court.

The Supreme Court, now under the leadership of acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio yesterday ruled 11-3 to allow the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to proceed with the multibillion-peso contract for the purchase of machines for next year’s elections.

It will be recalled that President Aquino a few days ago, sent a strong message that he no longer wants any debates on automated polls and made it clear that he wants the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines used in the 2010 presidential polls to be used in 2013.

A day after he issued the strong message, Carpio announced that the high court en banc was scheduled to meet yesterday to decide on the PCOS issue..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120614hea1.html

US military to help RP monitor coastal waters 06/14/2012

US military to help RP monitor coastal waters

06/14/2012
WASHINGTON — The US military said it planned to help the Philippines monitor its coastal waters as Manila faces an escalating dispute with China over territorial claims.

The Pentagon revised earlier comments and said there was no firm plan to deliver a land-based radar to the Philippines, but that a radar could be part of future assistance.

“We are in the initial planning stages of assisting the Philippines with a National Coast Watch Center,” Major Catherine Wilkinson told AFP.

The center is designed “to create an overall picture of what is going on in the Philippines’ territorial waters,” she said..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120614nat2.html

7 dead, 88 still missing in ferry sinking, floods 06/14/2012

7 dead, 88 still missing in ferry sinking, floods

06/14/2012
At least five persons died after a passenger vessel capsized off the waters of Palawan on Tuesday night, bringing to seven the total fatalities brought by heavy rains and rough seas due to a prevailing low pressure area affecting some parts of the country.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Undersecretary Benito Ramos said m/v Josille II capsized along the waters of Paganawin Island between the towns of El Nido and Taytay in Palawan around 11:30 p.m.

He added five of the 59 persons aboard the ill-fated vessels were confirmed dead while the rest were rescued safely..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20120614hea4.html

Noy dismisses oust-Aquino move By Fernan J. Angeles 06/14/2012

Noy dismisses oust-Aquino move

By Fernan J. Angeles 06/14/2012

President Aquino warded off the possibility of seeing himself in the same situation as the impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona, or be in the same shoes of former President Joseph Estrada who was ousted by mob rule.

Malacaang officials including the President himself, dont seem affected amid reports of an ouster plan that is being hatched against Aquino.

Part of the supposed plan of a group referred to in the social media networks as the Oust Penoy Movement is to file an impeachment complaint before the predominantly pro-administration House of Representatives against the President.

In a press briefing, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda branded the ouster plot as no more than a sham, even as he claimed that the groups impeachment plan doesnt even have any legal basis from where an article of impeachment would qualify..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120614nat4.html

Heed the people’s clamor, address the country’s concerns — Suarez By Charlie V. Manalo 06/14/2012

Heed the people’s clamor, address the country’s concerns — Suarez

By Charlie V. Manalo 06/14/2012

With all three major polling firms coming out with identical survey results showing President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino’s satisfaction rating taking a dip to its lowest level since assuming office in 2010 due to his failure to address on nearly every issue important to the public, House Minority Leader, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez yesterday said it is time the administration takes governance more seriously.

In a statement, Suarez called on Aquino to heed the people’s voice as they desire for the advancement and improvement of our country. We urge you to turn your attention away from the politics of revenge

Last week The Issues and Advocacy Center, in its second-quarter survey of the public pulse, reported that more people disapproved than approved of the President’s performance on nearly every issue important to the public. The only exception was his anti-corruption campaign, perhaps in part because the survey was taken at the end of the Corona impeachment trial..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20120614nat3.html

US senator supports inquiry into Pacquiao fight 06/14/2012

US senator supports inquiry into Pacquiao fight

06/14/2012
WASHINGTON — The top US senator said Tuesday he backs a probe into the split decision giving Timothy Bradley a win over Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao, but said he believed there was “nothing untoward” in the scoring.

Undefeated American Bradley won the controversial high-profile championship boxing bout Saturday in Las Vegas in Senator Harry Reid’s home state of Nevada, where the fight’s three judges were under pressure to explain their scoring which many experts have described as flawed.

“If an investigation makes everyone feel better, do the investigation,” Democratic Senate Majority Leader Reid, himself a one-time amateur boxer, told reporters in Washington..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/sports/20120614spo2.html

Judge resets to June 20 and 22 hearings on Abalos petition for bail By Pat C. Santos 06/14/2012

Judge resets to June 20 and 22 hearings on Abalos petition for bail

By Pat C. Santos 06/14/2012
Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. petition for bail in Pasay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) suffered another delay after it was postponed because his lead defense counsel did not make it to court yesterday.

Pasay RTC Branch 112 Judge Jesus Mupas decided to reschedule the hearing to June 20 and 22 due to the absence of former Justice Artemio Toquero due to an urgent appointment at the Department of Justice (DoJ).

Prosecutors were supposed to continue the testimony of former North Cotabato elections supervisor Yogi Martirizar to counter Abalos’ bail petition..... MORE

SourceThe Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20120614met2.html

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